No one injured in Lexington attic fire. Pest control device may have been cause.
Lexington firefighters battled a small residential fire on West Fifth Street Wednesday morning.
No one was injured in the blaze, according to firefighters.
The fire was first reported at 11:10 a.m. Wednesday and when firefighters arrived minutes later, they found heavy smoke coming out of the attic area and roof line of the home, according to Battalion Chief Brad Whittaker.
Firefighters entered the home and found fire in the attic space, mainly around the chimney area, per Whittaker. The fire was extinguished within 10 minutes of arrival and crews were recoiling their hoses just after 11:30 a.m.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Whittaker said there were third party pest control contractors working in the home at the time.
“They were trying to do some pest control using what amounts to, basically a smoke bomb type device,” Whittaker said. “We believe that may have something to do with the origin of the fire.”
The contractors and one occupant of the home got out and avoided injury.
The damage was mostly contained to the chimney area in the attic space. Whittaker said the house is still habitable.
This story was originally published December 2, 2021 at 12:42 PM.
